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ORIGIN OF THE RED MEN , 



AN 

AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE PEOPLING OF AMERICA 

BY 

THE ATLANTIANS AND TYRIANS ; 

THE ORIGIN OF THE TOLTECS, 

THE DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF ATLANTIS, 
An Island that once extended from near the Coast of Africa to the West Indies ; 

THE DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS, 

By two general Sinkings of Land, as proved from the Tradition of the Remnant 
of the Atlantians, and from other sources ; 

\ LEGEND OF QUETZAL CO ATL, A REFORMER AND DIVINE OF THE 
EARLY AGES OF MEXICO ; 

THE AZTEC CITY OF SUMAI, ETC. 

BY JOHN B. NEWMAN, M. D., 

AUTHOR OF "ILLUSTRATED BOTANY," "NATURAL HISTORY," ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH A PORTRAIT OF MONTEZUMA, 

THE LAST OF THE AZTEC EMPERORS. 



NEW YORK: 
PUBLISHED BY JOHN C. WELLS. 



1852. 



•N55 



• 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847. 
By THOMAS S. HUSTED, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern 
District of New Fork 



THE AZTEC CITY OF SUMAI 



INTRODUCTION. 

The late remarkable expedition of Colonel Doni- 
phan through the Mexican country has been nar- 
rated with considerable detail in the New Orleans 
National newspaper, and from it, been extensively 
copied and circulated by the press of the United 
States. Though most of the facts are highly 
exciting and interesting, yet there is one among 
them that will survive the remembrance of the 
others, and be more likely to perpetuate the memo- 
ry of that arduous undertaking than even the object 
for which it was despatched. We allude to the 
discovery of that long sought and anxiously waited 
for event, — an Aztec city and genuine Mexican 
inhabitants. The National gives the following 
story among its sketches, under the heading of 

EXTRAORDINARY INLAND CITY. 

About the time Colonel Doniphan made his trea- 
ty with the Navajos, a division, of his command 
was entirely out of provisions, but these were libe- 
rally supplied with the present necessities, by the 



6 



INTRODUCTION. 



tribe with whom they had just concluded terms 
of peace. The necessity, however, induced a por- 
tion of the regiment to return to Cuvano. While 
another portion commanded by Major Gilpin and 
accompanied by Colonel Doniphan, took the oppor- 
tunity of visiting the city of the Sumai Indians 
which is celebrated over all the surrounding coun- 
try, to make a peace between them and the Navajos. 
This city was situated on the Rio Pesco or Piscow, 
which is supposed be a branch of the Geyia. They 
were successful in their object, and from thence 
returned to the Rio del Norte. 

Unlike the Navajos, the people of Sumai live in 
a city which presents every appearance of a high 
degree of civilization. It contains probably over 
six thousand inhabitants who support themselves 
entirely by agriculture. This city is one of the 
most extraordinary on the globe. Its mode of 
building is extremely peculiar, it being divided into 
four solid squares, having but two streets and these 
crossing the centre at right angles. The buildings 
are all two stories in height and composed of sun 
burned brick. The first stories of each quarter are 
connected together, presenting a solid wall to the 
street, and so constructed that each house joins 
perfectly as far the first story is concerned, with the 
one next to it, until one fourth of the city may be 
said to oe one solid structure. The second stories 
rise from this vast solid foundation so as to designate 
each house, not uniting as do the first, but with 



INTRODUCTION. 



7 



room enough between each building for persons to 
pass each other without inconvenience. The in 
habitants of Sumai enter the second story of their 
buildings by ladders which they draw up at night, 
as a defence against any enemy that might be 
prowling about. 

In the city of Sumai were seen some white Indi- 
ans, and this circumstance probably gave rise to 
the story of there living afar off in the Rock Moun- 
tains a tribe of white aborigines. These Albinoes are 
very few in number. 

The discovery of this city of Sumai will afford 
the most curious speculations among those who have 
so long searched in vain for a city of the Indians 
who possessed the habits and manners of the Aztecs. 
No doubt we have here a race living as did that 
people when Cortez entered Mexico. 

It is a remarkable fact that the Sumians 
have, since the Spaniards left the country, refused 
to have any intercourse with the modern Mexicans, 
looking as they do upon that mixed and debased 
race as a far inferior people. They have also driven 
from among them the priests and other dignitaries, 
who formerly had power over them, and after this 
occurrence resumed habits and manners of their 
own, their Great Chief or Governor b3ing the civil 
and religious head. 

The country around the city of Sumai is cuiti. 
vated with the utmost care and skill, and the people 
reap immense harvests as the reward of their indus. 



8 



INTRODUCTION. 



try ; enough not only for themselves, but what is 
absolutely necessary in a country surrounded by 
such a sterile tract, — for also, large flocks of cattle 
and sheep. 

So far the information furnished by the expedi- 
tion and enough too, to cause others to follow in its 
track. The inhabitants of Sumai claim a direct 
descent from the pure Aztec race and pretend to 
retain their habits and customs. We have now a 
ready method of reading the hierogliphics,so profuse- 
ly inscribed on the ruins of the ancient cities. Such a 
consummation would at any rate be a great satis- 
faction, though with regard to their origin and early 
history, we have much to learn at this day. 

It is our opinion that from the information before 
them, antiquarians will come finally to the conclusion 
that America has been peopled from three different 
sources. 

In the first place by the passage of the descen- 
dants of Gomer, or Atlas,over the celebrated island of 
Alantis, by means of the islets of the sea. The over- 
throw of the islands driving the saved remnant in 
a southerly direction, where their descendants are 
now found under the name of Peruvians etc. 

Secondly by the crossing of the Tartar hordes 
Into America from the north-eastern parts of Asia. 

Thirdly by the voyage of the fifteen thousand 
whom the Sidonians carried from Tyre, to the east, 
ern shores of Mexico. In relation to these it is the 
object of this work to treat, and a connected but 



INTRODUCTION. 



9 



short history is giv3n of them from the confusion of 
tongues to the era of Cortez. 

'■'Few questions." says a writer, "have given rise 
to more discussion or more ingenious theorizing than 
the original history of America. To determine 
their original paternity, many incredible and absurd 
hypotheses have been from time to time propounded. 
Some authors— lord Kaimes among them — have not 
scrupled to report that the Mosaic account of the 
creation of our first parents was only intended to 
inform us of the origin of the inhabitants of the 
eastern w r orld, and that the Americans have sprung 
from a different Adam, and a less erring Eve. 
Others, with more piety, haye contented them- 
selves with hazarding the "conjecture that the des- 
truction of the tower of Babel, when, according to 
Holy Writ — 1 The Lord scattered them, (the build- 
ers) abroad upon the face of all the earth,' was the 
time when the vast plains and forests of the west- 
ern world first received man as their inhabitant. 

"A third party conceived that in former times 
an island of enormous dimensions, named Atlantis, 
stretched from the north-western coast of Africa 
across the Atlantic ocean, and that over this conti- 
nental tract both man and beast migrated west- 
ward. In one night, however, a mighty storm and 
wind overwhelmed this island, at a time when only 
a few animals had succeeded in making good their 
passage. 



10 



INTRODUCTION. 



" The discoveries made by the Russians in the 
northern parts of the world under the auspices of 
Peter the Great, confirmed the opinion of those 
who, not disposed to account by supernatural 
agency for what might be effected by natural 
causes, had early suggested the possibility of 
America being peopled from the contiguous north- 
ern shores of Europe on the one side and Asia on 
the other. They insisted upon the similarity in 
features and manners and mode of life of the deni- 
zens of the frigid zones, and arguing upon the 
analagous migrations of the European and Asiatic 
nomads, they accounted for the existence of 
the Southern Americans by the continual pres- 
sure of a rapidly increasing population from the 
north. 

" But even when the discoveries of Russia appa- 
rently corroborated this hypothesis, the tide of dis- 
cussion was not checked, but merely diverted into 
fresh and new channels. Almost every nation of 
the Old World setup its claim in turn for the honor 
of having given birth to the new hemisphere ; the 
Jews, Canaanites, Carthagenians, Greeks, Scy- 
thians, Chinese and many others, have all found 
zealous advocates for their respective claims." 

At all events the discussion has occasioned a most 
zealous research in all the historical records procu- 
rable, and if it has done nothing more to the eluci- 
dation of American history, would have been use- 




HIRAM AND SOLOMON. 15 

throne. Hiram made many extensive improvements 
raising the eastern part higher and enlarging the city itself. 
He also built many temples to the gods, and joined the 
temple of Hercules, which before stood by itself, to the city, 
by a bank in the middle between them, and this temple he 
adorned with many donations of golden ornaments. 2. 



am at leisure, and design to build a house to God. For God 
foretold to my father that such a habitation should be erected 
by me. Therefore I desire thee to send some of thy sub- 
jects with mine to Mount Lebanon, to cut down timbers, for 
the Sidonians are more skilful than our people in cutting of 
wood. As for wages to the hewers of wood, I will pay 
whatever price thou shalt determine. 

Kino: Hiram was pleased with the letter and rejoiced that 
he might have an opportunity of serving Solomon, for he 
was liberal and benificent to all, and desirous besides to as- 
sist a prince of whose wisdom and might so much had been 
said. He therefore wrote back the answer. 

KING HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON. 

It is fit to bless God, that he hath committed thy father's 
government for thee, who art a wise man and endowed with 
all virtues. As to myself I rejoice at the condition thou art 
in ; and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest 
to me about. For when my subjects have cut down many and 
large trees of cedar and cypress wood. I will send them to 
sea and order my subjects to make floats of them, and to 
sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, 
and leave them there. After which thy subjects may carry 
them to Jerusalem. 

This was the commencement of much pleasant and 
familiar intercourse between Hiram and Solomon : and the 
workmen of Tyre did the monarch of Israel great and im- 
portant service by their skill in the working of wood and 
timber, more especially was this the case with a man 
named Kiram whose mother was a daughter of the tribe 
of the Israelite Naphtali, but his father a Tyrean worker 
in brass. The skill of the father had been great but the 



16 



ETABAAL KING OF TYRE, 



Ethbaal king of Tyre and Sidon, a successor of Hiram, 
married his daughter Jezabel to Ahab, king of Israel, and 
by this means extended the worship of Idols to a great ex- 
tent among the Israelites ; this caused a severe drought in 
the land which did not cease until the prophets of Baal were 
all slaughtered that resided in Israel; and that not sufficing 
to cure Ahab of idolatry he also was himself killed with his 
wife Jezabel, whose blood the dogs licked. 3. 

son excelled him, for he was filled with wisdom and under- 
standing and Cunning to work all works in brass. And he 
was sent for by king Solomon and came to him and wrought 
all his works. 

In return for the kindness of Hiram, for he had furnished 
according to desire cedar and fir trees and gold and work- 
men Solomon presented him with a district of country in 
Galilee, containing twenty cities. Then Hiram came out 
from Tyre to see the cities w 7 hich Solomon had given him 
and they pleased him not and he said : what cities are 
those that thou hast given me my brother ; and he called 
them Oabul/the land of Displeasure. But king Solomon 
sent him word that the cities he had given were conquered 
by himself in war, and that only such were in his power to 
dispose of ; the laws of Israel declaring (hat each family 
had a right to its own land by divine appointment and that 
it could not be alienated forever. When Hiram understood 
the matter he was satisfied and sent Solomon many talents 
of gold, and there was peace between them. 

Hiram, moreover, sent hard words and curious sayings to 
Solomon, and desired he would return answers to them 
or pay money if he failed. This he did to try his wisdom. 
Now so sagacious and full of understanding was Solomon 
that he gave answers to all of them ; nor were they too 
hard for him, but that he discoverod the meaning and 
brought it to light. Solomon then sent riddles to Hiram 
whereby Hiram would have lost great sums of money were 
it not that a man named Abdermon offered himself to the 
king as one who could understand hidden meanings ; and 
Abdermon explained all the dark sayings. 

3. Pygmalion a successor of Ethbaal exceed most of the 



SIEGE OF TYKE. 



17 



The Tyrians after these occurrances felt the deepest ani*- 
mosity to the children of Israel, who besides had begun to 
rival them in commerce ; and when afterwards Jerusalem 
was taken by the king of Assyria, exulted in her downfall ; 4 
but the triumh was premature, the same conqueror came 
against Tyre, took it after a seige of thirteen years, slaugh- 
tered great numbers of their people, tore down the houses 
and walls of their city and carried off whatever was valua - 
ble in goods and merchandise. 5. 



Tyrian kings in wickedness ; he cruelly used his sister 
Dido, and her husband Cichaeus, which led to the founding 
of another colony on the shores of the Mediterranean des- 
tined by its success in commerce to eclipse all nations ; but 
for this colony the religious ceremonies of the Tyrians 
would have been lost, as it is their customs were preserved 
and rendered capable of being identified with similar rites 
whereever found, 

4. They evidently exulted without any apprehension of 
danger to themselves, as they had already measured arms 
with the Assyrians, and gained the victory. This was 
during the reign of Eluleus, when Shalmanasor king of 
Assyria overran all the land of Phoenecia. The people of 
Tyre would not submit to him, but fought him in their ships 
on the water, and carried off over five hundred prisoners. 
This action gave them great fame among the surrounding 
nations, and inflated still more a pride already inordinate. 
But the king of Assyria, irritated at their success, returned 
and placed guards at the river and aqueducts to hinder 
them from the drinking of the water ; this state of things 
continued five years and still the Tyreians maintained the 
seige and procurred supplies of water by digging wells inside 
their walls. The final retreat of Shalmanasor made them 
consider the defences of their city invincible. 

5. The people of Tyre were often subjects of prophesy. 
The spirit of their ancestor Ham would continually develop 
itself in wanton and insulting actions., " Cursed be Canaan, 
a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren," were the 



18 



BUILDING OF TYRE. 



This unfortunate occurrence for a long time depressed 
the spirits of the people, but at the end of seventy years, 
they commenced building again on the old site : 'as they 
were proceeding in their labors, the sea arose and rendered 
the place uninhabitable. On this they removed to an island 
five miles distant and commenced building anew ; their en- 
terprising spirit did not desert them, a magnificent city rap- 
idly arose, and again was their present habitation the glory 
of the country renowned for wealth and grandeur, Dis- 
pleased with the race of Ahibal, they had appointed the family 



inspired words of Noah when he discovered the indignity his 
son Ham had but upon him in his drunkenness. The 
denunciation, it will be observed was not against all the 
children of the offender, but only against those who would 
imbibe that ungrateful son's spirit. 

The prophecy of Ezekiel is worth recording in connec- 
tion with the taking of Tyre the first time and the comple- 
tion of its fulfilment the second. 

PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL. 

" Because Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem : she is 
broken that was the gates of the people ; she is turned unto 
me, I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste ; there- 
fore thus saith the Lord God ; Behold I am against the O 
Tyrus and will cause many nations to come up against thee 
as the sea causeth his wares to come up. And they shall 
destroy the walls of Tyrus and break down her towers ; I 
will also scrape the dust from her, and make her like the 
top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets 
in the midst of the sea ; for I have spoken it saith the Lord 
God, and it shall become a spoil to the nations. And her 
daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword ; 
and they shall know that I am the Lord. 

For thus saith the Lord God ; Behold I will bring upon 
Tyrus, Nebuchadnezar king of Babylon, a king of kings, 
from the north with horses and with chariots and with 
horsemen and companies and much people. He shall slay 
with the sword thy daughters in the field : and he shall 
make a fort against thee and cast a mount against thee, and 



SIEGE OF TYRE. 



19 



of Strato to succeed it, and it was mentioned before the 
eighth king of the new dynasty sat on the throne when war 
was proclaimed by the king of Macedon. 

The Tyrians derided his message ; their city was strongly 
fortified. It stood on an island half a mile from the main 
land, encompassed on all sides by an immense wall one 
hundred and fifty feet high leaving no space between its 
base and the sea. From the land it could not be assailed, 
and on the water, the Tyrians possessed a numerous arma- 
ment of galleys, sufficient, they thought, to defeat any mara- 
time force brought against them. 

Alexander after a careful examination of the advantages 
of their position, saw that his only chance for success, was 
to connect the island with the main land by filling up the 
sea between them, and by thus making an immense pier 
extend the shore to the foot of the walls ! 

Although the sea was of considerable depth, the soldiers 
of Macedon resolutely undertook to accomplish the desire of 
their king, and accordingly commenced the works ; but they 
had to do with an enemy as brave and skillful as themselves, 
and more confident of success ; for the Tyrians manned their 
ships, beat off the soldiers who were toiling, and scornfully 
destroyed the fruits of their labors. Maddened by this con- 
tinual and effectual opposition it required the entire strength 
of Alexander's mind to keep down his rage and contrive 
the means of suceess. Finding it was necessary to meet 
the Tyrians on the sea, he collected from all the neighbor- 
ing seaports under his control a large fleet ; these battled 

lift up the buckler against thee. And he shall set engines 
of war against thy walls, and with his axes shall he break 
down thy towers. By reason of the abundance of his 
horses their dust shall cover thee : thy w T alls shall shake 
at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels and of the 
chariots, when he shall enter thy gates, as men enter 
into a city wherein is made a breach. With the hoofs of 
his horses shall he tread down all thy streets ; he shall 
slay thy people by the sword and thy strong garrisons shall 
go down to the ground. And they shall make a spoil of thy 
riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise ; and they shall 



20 



SIEGE OF TYRE. 



with the defenders of the city, who were at length driven by 
superior numbers under their own walls for safety, where 
in deep grief and anger they saw the Macedonian's prepa- 
rations without power to retard them. 

Incredible as was the labor and fatigue that attended the 
execution of the works, they now proceeded with immense 
rapidity. To form the mound from the continent to the 
island the ruins of old Tyre afforded ready materials and 
all that could be obtained in this way was gathered and 
scraped. 6. 

In the seventh month of the siege the pier was completed. 
The besiegers lost no time, for all having been prepared 
for the expected moment, their engines were run against 
the walls and commened battering them, while their fleet 
sailed round to the other side of the city to endeavor to gain 
admittance by means of a pier. At length a breach was 
effected and the Macedonians entered the city putting all 
who opposed them to the sword. The Tyrians fought des- 
perately from the first ; their king Azelmic chained the statue 
of Hercules, to the principal altar of the city, to keep him from 
deserting them. The defence was made in vain, the enemy 
were successful and Alexander, irritated to madness, now 
gave full vent to his furious passions, and although eight 
thousand of the inhabitants had been killed in the assault, 
with savage barbarity crucified two thousand of them and 
sold thirty thousand more as slaves. 



break down thy walls and destroy thy pleasant houses : and 
they shall lay thy stores and thy dust in the middle of the 
water. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease : 
and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And 
I will make thee like the top of a rock : thou shalt be a 
place to spread nets upon : thou shalt be built no more, for 
I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God." 

It will be seen in the ensuing pages how literally the 
prophecy was fulfilled, and how that after trying to rebuild 
the city the sea rose up and spoiled their labors. 

6. Thus was the very dust scraped from the walls of old 
Tyre as Ezekiel had prophesied. 



SIDONrANS ACT AS FRIENDS. 



21 



Sidon, which had submitted without a struggle to Alex- 
ander, found favor in his sight ; so much so that he allowed 
the Sidonians to carry off fifteen thousand of the ill-fated 
inhabitants of Tyre to another country for he refused to 
allow any of them to remain in the city. This exile rem- 
nant proceeded down the Mediterranean to Cyprus where 
they had intended to stop ; but messengers came to inform 
them that whatever place received them on that place should 
fall the vengeance of Alexander ; and also a message to 
the Sidonians from the Macedonian monarch, desiring 
their instant return. 

The Sidonians thus forced to depart suddenly, left ships 
enough with the Tyrians to enable them to leave Cyprus, 
the inhabitants of which refused to receive them. In this 
emergency they determined to leave that quarter of the 
world, and put themselves beyond the vengeance of Alex- 
ander by crossing the waters to the isle of Atlantis. 7. 

This island belonged to a king named Atlas who dwelt 
westward and whose dominion extended over a vast domain. 
He was the great patriarch as well as king of western Eu- 

7. Four hundred years before the destruction had the 
whole scene been painted by Josiah. " Be still ye inhabi- 
tants of the isle ; thou whom the merchants of Sidon, that 
pass over the sea have replenished. Is this your joyous city, 
whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall 
carry her afar off to sojourn. Who hath taken this coun- 
sel against Tyre, the crowing city, whose merchants are 
princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth. 
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the 
kingdoms ; the Lord hath given a commandment against 
the merchant city to destroy the strong holds thereof, And 
he said thou shalt no more rejoice daughter of Sidon : arise 
pass over to Chittim : there also thou shalt have no 
rest" 

This exile remnant were those of whom Isaiah said 
" that they should be as the shaking of an olive tree, as the 
gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done." How truly 
was it that her own fleet (her old friends who had often sup- 
ported her) should carry her off to sojourn, and that once 
passed over to Chittim (Cyprus) she found no more rest. 



22 



ISLAND OF ATLANTIS. 



rope. It was said that his empire reached to the utmost- 
regions of the west and to that sea where the horses of the 
sun, wearied with their daily course, refresh themselves. A 
thousand flocks fed in his wide extended plains and of all he 
was the owner. He had many children ; the most famous 
was Hesperia. He had likewise several daughters who were 
in possession of the extreme islands of the west between 
Atlantis and Europe. 

Hercules had, many generations before while ancient 
Tyre was in existence, made a voyage in one of their ships 
and crossing the Medeterranean passed through the straits of 
Gibralter, which from that circumstance bore his name, being 
called the Pillars of Hercules. 8 Still continuing his jour- 



8. The ancient writers tell that Hercules visited the islands 
of Hesperides to partake of the fruit, (oranges, potngrainates 
etc.) he was assisted in this by the race of Atlas. Lempriere 
gives the story thus : — The island of Atantides or Hes- 
perides lay beyond mount Atlas in Africa. The celebrated 
island contained gardens abounding with fruits of the most 
delicious kind and was carefully guarded by a dreadful dra- 
gon (the great deep) which never slept. It was one of the 
labors of Hercules to procure some of the golden apples 
(oranges, called Hespence fruit by the ancients) of the Hes- 
peredes. The hero, ignorant of the situation of this cele- 
brated garden, applied to the nymphs in the neighborhood 
of the Po for information, and was told that Nereus, the god 
of the sea would direct him in his pursuit. Hercules seized 
Nereus (the sea) while he was asleep, (calm) and the sea 
g-od unable to escape from his grasp, answered all the ques- 
tions w 7 hich he proposed. When Hercules came into Africa 
he demanded three of the golden apples. Atlas unloaded 
himself and placed the burden of the heavens on the shoul- 
ders of Hercules, while he Atlas (or the race of Atlas) went 
in quest of the apples. At his return Hercules expressed 
his wish to ease the burden by putting something on his 
head, and when Atlas assisted him to remove his incon- 
venience, Hercules artfully left the burden and seized the 
apples which Atlas had thrown on the ground (that is, took 
advantage of his discoveries). 



VOYAGE OF HERCULES. 



23 



ney westward he at last came to the island of Alantis and 
brought from it many rare and valuable curiosities. When 
the Tyrian marineres returned home they gave the citizens 
an account of all the wonders they had seen and the dis- 
coveries that had been made. Expeditions were at once 
fitted out for trading to the new country and the adventurers 
returned successful and enriched beyond their most sanguine 



9. Plato gives the most concise account of the island of 
Atlantis of any among the ancients. In the dialogue with 
Timseus he says : " Hear O Socrates, a recital very improba- 
ble and yet very true, if we may believe Solon the wisest of 
the seven sages. The people of Sais like the Athenians 
very much because they believe themselves of the same 
origin ; wherefore Solon in the voyage which he made into 
Egypt was received into that city with the greatest distinc- 
tion. 

" One day when this great man was conversing with the 
priest of Sais upon the history of remote times, one of them 
said to him : 1 O Solon you Greeks are always children ; 
there is not one among you who is not a novice in the 
science of antiquity. You are ignorant of the exploits of 
that generation of heroes of whom you are the feeble pos- 
terity. I am going to instruct you in the achievments 
of your ancesters ; and I do in accordance with the 
divinity who formed you as well as us of fire. 

' All that has passed in the Egyptian monarchy for thou- 
sands of years is recorded in our sacred books ; and what I 
am going to tell you of your primi ive laws, manners and 
the revolutions of yonr country goes back still further. 

4 Our calenders relate that your republic resisted the efforts 
of a great power which coming out of the Atlantic sea had 
unjustly invaded Europe and Asia — for then that sea was 
fordible. Upon its borders was an island opposite to what 
you call in your language the columns of Hercules. This 
island was more extensive than Lybia and Asia put together. 
From thence voyagers might pass to the island whence it 
was easy for them to cross to the continent. 

4 In this Atlantis there were kings whose power was for- 
midable. It extended over this island as well as over the 



VOYAGE OF HERCULES. 



hopes. Grateful to Hercules for the sources of prosperity he 
had opened to them ; they made him the tutelery deity or 
principal god of the city ; building a magnificent temple to 
his honor, which Hiram, as we have before seen connected 
with the city and and greatly ornamented. 

Other nations wished to join them in these expeditions 
but all such conjunction the Tyrians sternly disproved and 
would give aid in neither men or vessels. Some however 
stimulated by the love of enterpriee and the hope of im- 
mense gain, secretly determined to follow the path of Her* 
cules, but on emerging from the straits of Gibraltar they found 



adjacent islands and a part of the continent. Besides 
that they reigned over all the countries bordering Lybia, 
even unto Egypt, and the side of Europe even to Tyr- 
rhenia. The sovereigns of the Atlantis, proud of so much 
power attempted to subjugate your country and ours. Then 
O Solon your republic showed itself superior to the rest of 
the world by its courage and virtue. It trampled over the 
Atlantes and preserved as all from servitude. But in the 
last times there ensued inundations and earthquakes ; then 
all your warriors were swallowed up in the earth in the 
space of twenty four hours and the Atlantis disappeared. 
Since that catastrophe the sea which is found in that quar- 
ter is no longer navigable, on account of the mound which 
is formed there, and which arises from the submerged 
island. 

"And now says Plato I will come to the facts. The gods 
(sons of Noah) divided among them the earth. The At- 
lantis was the portion of Neptune (Japheth) who had ten 
children, five male and five female and among them he 
divided his inheritance. Atlas (Gomer) had the best do- 
main. They give him the title of king and his brothers con- 
tented themselves with that of archons (dukes). 

H All these sons of Neptune as well as their descendants 
reigned for a long time in the Atlantis. The empire ex- 
tended itself over islands stretched along the sea and finally 
increased to such a degree as to embrace all the countries 
situated between Tyrhenia end Egypt. 

" The family of Atlas was that which arrived at fhe great- 



VOYAGE OF THE NATIONS. 



25 



it impossible, unused as they were to the art of sailing, to 
manage their vessels in that stormy and tempestuous ocean, 
into which they at once emerged. Many were cast away 
and destroyed in the effort and the rest fearful and discour- 
aged gave up the undertaking and with difficulty reached 
their homes. On returning they gave out that a great 
dragon guarded the blessed islands of the Hesperides ; that 
this dragon had devoured many of their companions, and 
forced them back without possessing the golden fruit or see- 
ing the beautiful country of which they had gone in search. 9. 



est degree of glory. It amassed riches such as no sovereign 
will ever amass again in the course of ages. Besides the 
island furnished an abundance of all that was necessary to 
life. There were mines of orichalque, a metal which is 
know r n at present only by name, and which does not yield 
in value but to gold. The earth nourished a crowd of ani- 
mals, domestic as well as wild, and even elephants w-ere 
seen there. 

" The inhabitants of Atlantis knew how to construct 
temples, palaces and ports. The temple of Neptune, was 
covered over with a covering of gold ; it w r as of immense 
size; but its architecture w ; as of a singular character. 
They had represented in the Sanctuary, Neptune standing 
erect upon a chariot, harnessed w ith six winged horses of 
such a stature that the figure touched the vault of the edi- 
fice. Around the chariot were a hundred Neriads seated 
on dolphins. Upon the outer w T all appeared the portraits of 
the kings and queens of the Atlantis in wrought gold. 

"One might discover within the circumference of one 
royal house a circular riding school of great diameter where- 
in w r ere performed the movements of the cavahy. 

" Round the principal city there w 7 as a little plain encir- 
cled by mountains, from whence there was a gentle and 
easy slope to the sea. 

The archons reigned each in his district and had the 
power of life and death. They assembled together every 
six years and regulated among themselves the general affairs 
of the island. They w r ere during a number of generations, 
just powerful and happy. At length luxury introduced 



26 



DELUGE OF DEUCALION. 



For a time this narration prevented the attempts of others, 
but the Tyrians well knew that eventually many would 
succeed for their continual and successful voyages acted as 
fresh incitements to the nations around them, when an event 
occurred that placed them beyond danger on that account. 
A great sea overflowed into the Mediterranean and burst 
its way through the straits of Gibraltar overflowing a 
member of the Hesperian isles ; from whence it became a 
current opinion that Atlantis itself was overthrown. The 



depravity of manners and despotism. Jupiter in his wrath 
resolved to punish the crimestof the Atlantians : he convoked 
the immortals to the centre of the universe, from whence he 
looks down on all generations. When they were assembled.'* 
The rest of the dialogue is lost. 

This dialogue of Plato is after the manner of his 
master Socrates, in which it is proposed to give the theory of 
the soul, to make men acquainted with a rewarding and 
avenging deity and to destroy the blasphemy of atheists a 
good Providence. De Sales remarks that, u all these su- 
blime objects do not belong to fiction of which Plato him- 
self gives notice it is not. Hear O Socrates, a recital very 
improbable and yet very true. This is not the style of a 
philosopher w r ho composes apologies. He tries to render his 
tale probable and takes care not to say that it is not 
so." 

"The history of Atlantis which opens the dialogue seems 
w 7 ell connected with the foundation of the w 7 ork. The des- 
cription of the vicisitudes which have changed so many 
times the face of the globe — this people happy as long as it 
was just — and whom the Gods anihilated when it ceased to 
be so. prepares for the great truths which the philosopher is 
about to announce to men. Here is no need of astonish 
ing a multitude by illusions ; error of this kind is only 
adapted to the barbarous legislator who wishes to deceive 
his victims, and not to the philosopher who comes to bring 
to unfortunate beings the last good which could be torn 
from them God and immortality. " Besides, 3 ' continues De 
Sales. " Plato is not the only writer who speaks of the 
Atlantis. Homer and Sancomiathon also make mention of 
them." 



ISLAND OF ATLANTIS. 



27 



Tynans at first believed this themselves and gave tip for 
hopeless the expedition that had last gone out ; to their sur- 
prise, however, it returned and they found that only the 
intervening isles had been destroyed. They carefully con- 
cealed the fact from the nations around them : and although 
these voyages excited suspicion in regard to the real state of 
the case, yet as no competent person took pains to examine 



Plutarch in speaking of the island of Atlantis calls it 
Ogyg'm from Ogyges one of the Atlantians (Oga means an 
island.) " This island he says, u is distant from Britain about 
live days voyage sailing westward ; there are three others 
which are about the same distance from each other ; they 
are reached by oared vessels. This ocean is everywhere 
dangerous to voyagers on account of shoals and shallows 
shifted by currents. There is a tradition that it was once 
frozen. The shores of the continent are inhabited, espe- 
cially those of a vast bay as extensive as the Palas Meotides, 
the mouth of which is over aginst the Caspian Sea.' 5 

Tournefort, the botanist, in the beginning of the eighteenth 
century enlarged on these ideas. As Hercules had formerly 
done he sailed through the straits of Gibraltar into the At- 
lantic and flattered himself that he had discovered in the 
little archipelego of the Canaries the remains of an ancient 
continent submerged. He goes on to explain this submersion 
by the rupture of the ancient isthmus of Gibraltar, caused 
by a violent overflow of the Mediterranean. li Perhaps said 
he the terrible irruption of the Mediterranean into the Atlan- 
tic submerged and overwhelmed that famous island Allan 
t is which Plato and Diodorus describe. The islands 
Canaries, Azores and America and the remains of it.*' 

It may be well to remark in this connection, that two 
deluges or rather partial innundations are mentioned by all 
the ancient historians ; they were occasioned by the eleva- 
tion of volcanic islands and the overflow of the Euxine and 
thus breaking through the straits of Gibralter overwhelmed 
large tracts of the Atlantic isles. Pallus says that L - the 
Euxine and Caspian seas as well as the lake Aral and seve- 
eral others are the remains of a great sea which covered a 
great part of the north of Asia. 



28 



TRADE BROKEN OFF. 



the matter, the former impression returned and Atlantis 

was .forgotten. 

As they increased in wealth they increased in indolence ; 
luxury induced effeminacy ; they wanted spirit to make 
the long and arduous voyages and the trade gradually ceased 



It has been conjectured says an English writer, "that the 
Bosphorus was the occasion of draining the ocean Pallas 
mentions. The memory of this disruption of the two con- 
tinents was preserved by the traditions of Greece It appears 
that this catastrophe was produced by the operation of Vol- 
canoes, the fires of which were burning in the sea of the 
Argonautic voyage. In consequence the level of the 
Mediterranean and Atlantic was greatly changed. The 
ancient, navigators complained that a number of shallows 
infested the regions of the Atlantic ocean The tradition of 
a great continent fully as large as the old world was not un- 
known to Aristotle. It is remarkble that recent navigators 
have observed many shallows nearly connected together in 
a line stretching from Spain through the Azores to New- 
foundland. It is possible that after the submersion of this 
tract of land which served for the connection of the conti- 
nents, navigation might become excessively difficult, until 
the overflowed countries gradually sunk to a greater depth, 
a.nd thus at the same time gave occasion to the returning of 
the waters from the European coast." 

Moreri tells us that " in order to be convinced that America 
w 7 as not absolutely unknown to the ancients, it is enough to 
consult them. Grantor assures us that the historical notice 
of Atlantis by Plato is true. Prochus quotes Mercellus an 
Ethiopian historian who wrote the same account of it as did 
Plato. Besides all this Diodorus Siculus affirms that certain 
Tyrians having passed the straits of Gibraltar were carried 
by furious tempest to lands far away in the Atlantic Ocean 
and that they found a very fertile island opposite Africa 
boidered by great navigable rivers. If we consider the situ- 
ation of the island it was more probably America itself/ 3 A 
record of this visit has been discovered from " the Panic 
(Phoenecian) monument found some years ago in the forests 
behind Bostor. It is probable that some Tyrians, thrown by 



VOYAGE TO ATLANTIS. 



29 



until it was entirely broken off, so that for many years 
no Tyrian had visited Atlantis. 

Consequently though none of the exiles had ever been to 
that far off country, yet they knew well by tradition its 
proper direction, and in the hour of extremity did not hesi- 
tate to steer for Atlantis. According as their ancestors had 
done before them they coursed the Mediterranean, passed 
the Straits of Hercules and nothing daunted by the expanse 
of waters that met their view sailed in a westerly direction. 
After some days they passed a small group of islands, whose 



storms on these unknown coasts, uncertain if even the 
same tracks might be again discovered, choose to leave this 
monument of their adventures." 

Seneca, eighteen hundred years ago was so certain of the 
existence of a great country behind the sea that in his 
tragedy of Media he thas expresses himself. 

Years will come in future ages 

When ocean shall loose the chain of events 

And a vast territory shall be laid open 

And Tethys shall discover new worlds 

And Thule be no longer the boundary of the earth. 

It is very remarkable that the words of Plato respecting 
the agrandizement of the Atlantians, in this Atlantis cor- 
respond with the traditions of the ancient Peruvians concern- 
ing their origin and antiquities." 

Whatever may have been the amount of inundation 
recorded by Plato it seems most unlikely that it could have 
overwhelmed so large a territory as that of Atlantis. In all 
verisimilitude a considerable portion of the Atlantian popu- 
lation must have survived the catastrophe. Many of the 
ancient traditions distinctly imply that the Atlantian race had 
not entirely perished ; and if the Tyrians gave out a report 
of their utter annihilation we well know the reason of this 
fabricated falsehood, for Diodorus Siculus tells us that they 
endeavored to keep the knowledge of the country from the 
Europeans and thus retain a profitable commerce with the 
Atlantians to themselves." 



30 



VOYAGE OF HERCULES. 



situation was m accordance with what they had heard, and 
thus much cheered by knowing they were in the proper 
course, continued the journey. 

The moon became full and waned and became full 
again and still found them on the waters ; and now con- 
siderable alarm began to fill their bosoms. None of their 
ancestors had ever spent so much time in arriving at Atlantis 
and they feared that either the island was in reality over- 
thrown or that they had missed its direction. Their provis- 
ions and water began to fail also, and this added to their 
terror and distress. At last the moon waned and without 
any expectation of ever seeing it full again, they were begin- 
ning to despair when they found themselves in a powerful 
current, this raised their hopes, nor were they again destined 
to disappointment, for on the second day they reached the 
place of their destination and landed on the eastern coast oi 
Mexico. 10. 

Their ships were in a worn and unsafe condition, but 
tired of the sea and having no longer any motives for travel- 
ing on as they dared not return to Phcenecia. they did not 
repair the shattered vessels, but on the contrary suffered 
them to fall to pieces; and thus all means of ever retracing 
their steps was lost and in fact not cared for. Circumstances 
had developed in them all the hardy and resolute spirit of 
their favored ancestors. The}' applied themselves diligently 



10. The unexpected length of time which it took them to 
reach Atlantis or the shores of Mexico, can only be accounted 
for by another general sinking of land, and that this is the 
case is the opinion of many modern geologists. Darwin in 
his " Voyage of a Naturalist," says that the geologist who is 
fully impressed with the vast oscillations of level which have 
affected the earth's crust within late periods, will not fear to 
speculate on the recent submergence of land in the West 
Indian arch pelago, as the cause of the present zoological 
separation of North and South America. The South 
American character cf the West Indian manumais seem to 
indicate that this archipelago was formerly united to the 
southern continent and that it has subsequently been an area 
of subsidence. 



ARRIVAL AT MEXICO. 



31 



to the arts and agriculture. Soon splendid cities rose around 
them ; pyramids, rivaling those of Egypt towered to the skied, 
forming like those similar structures in the east an imperish- 
able monument to their builders ; and aqueducts like the 
ones that used formerly to supply old Tyre with water w T ere 
reared, incomparable in point of size and beauty of work- 
manship. 

Finding a number of small islands in a lake situated in 
the midst of a beautiful valley, they resolved to build a city 
on those islands to commemorate the one they had lost, ac- 
cordingly they erected a magnificent city, and filled up the 
land between it and the main land in three separate places, 
two more than Alexander had made when he took Tyre. 
The city though in a very warm country was situated so 
high up as to enjoy a temperature at all times exceedingly 
mild and refreshing. It was considered by its builders the 
most glorious place in the world. The only remnant that 
remained to the Tyrians of their former state of life was 
the magnificent floating gardens that floated on the lake 
of Tezcuco. 

The Tyrians when they landed did not expect to find the 
country without inhabitants and accordingly were not sur- 
prised at meeting- strange tribes : but they were not the ones 
whom they wished to see, but on the contrary an entirely 
different race, destitute of the polish and civilization that 
characterized the Atlantians. As a matter of course, the 
childen of Azelmic or Aztecs as they were afterwards called 
soon obtained the superiority which with occasional reverses 
they kept until enslaved in turn by Cortez. 

They afterwards found that the Atlantians who had peo- 
pled the islands of the sea were mostly cut off by two great 
floods and earthquakes which had reached their country ; 
the first time many of the isles of the sea were destroyed, 
and the second their mainland had sunk into the water 
burying up their kings and nobles in their gorgeous and 
beautiful cities noted throughout the world. The remnants 
of the people had retreated before invaders who came over 



11. "When America," says Darwin, "and especially 
North America possessed its elephants^ mastodons, horse and 



32 



VOYAGE TO ATLANTIS. 



from the north and now lived in a vast continent many- 
moons journey to the south. 

After many generations an armament of vessels appeared 
on the western shore, from which disembarked a great num- 
ber of men with whom the Aztecs had many dangerous 
combats, but did not succeed in conquering them. On the 
contrary they took possession of a district of the country as 
their own and settling on it soon rivalled the early inhabi- 



hollow horned ruminants, its was much more closely related 
in its zoological character to the temperature of Europe and 
Asia than it is now. As the remains of these genera are 
found on both sides of Behring's Straits, andon the plains 
of Siberia we are led to look to the north-western side of 
North America as the former point of communication be- 
tween the old and so called New World. And as so many 
species, both living and extinct of these same genera, in- 
habit and have inhabited the old world it seems most proba- 
ble that the North American elephants, mastodons, horse 
and hollow horned ruminants migrated on land since sub- 
merged near Behring's straits, from Siberia into south Amer- 
ica, and thence on land since submerged, into the West 
Indies and South America, where for a time they mingled 
with the forms characteristic of that southern continent, and 
have since become extinct." 

If the lower animals and of such enormous size too, could 
so easily pass from Asia into America what possible objec- 
tion can be uged against the equally easy introduction of 
men. 

Those who have suggested the possibility of America 
having been peopled from Asia, point to the similarity in 
features, manners and mode of life of the natives of both 
places Mr. Parsons in his "Remains of Japhet," entertains? 
no doubt but that the earliest Americans were a colony from 
Tartary. In confirmation of this he observes that the 
American natives had some acquaintance with the doctrine 
of the Trinity, for they worshiped the sun underThe three- 
fold appellation of <; Father and Lord Sun," " The Sun Son," 
and " Brother Sun," and moreover adored an idol called by 
the name of Tanga Tanga, which signifies "one in Three 



VOYAGE OF HERCULES. 



33 



tants in arts and civilization: they were known by the 
name of Toltecs. The continual jealousies that subsisted 
between them and the Aztecs however, made their position 
uncomfortable and at last they left the northern country 
entirely and went to a long distance south where they en- 
joyed an equally delightful climate and the blessings of 
peace. 12. 



and Three in one." There is a similar worship among 
the Lamas of Thibet and Tartary. Corroborative evidence 
of their Tartar origin may be found in the pillars of stone 
of which Peter Kalm gives an account, that were discovered 
some hundred miles west of Montreal, evidently of great an- 
tiquity and one covered with inscriptions in the Tartar 
characters. 

According to Mr. Pennant, the customs of scalping, tor- 
turing and even eating their prisoners, of disguising them- 
selves as wild beasts for the purpose of the chase and of 
marching in file and not abreast prevail among the American 
Indians as among the inhabitants of Tartary, while in their 
physical formation thy similarity is even more apparent. 

It seems that a corrupt species of Jewish ceremonialism 
had spread in early ages over a great part of north-eastern 
Asia, when the Manchou Tartars imbibed them. As might 
be expected these ceremonies may be traced in the northen 
tribes. A mother was secluded after childbirth : the wid- 
owed wife generally married her husband's brother : they 
selected their priests (medicine men) from among a portion 
of the tribe not warriors ; they worship one God, practise 
circumcision, etc. etc. 

"Their opinion," says a writer, "is of little value who 
think that the people of America came from Great Tartary, 
because there were no horses in that country before the 
Spanish conquest, and it is almost impossible that the Scy- 
thians who abounded in horses, should bring none with them, 
besides the Tartars were never seamen. 

There was no necessity of ships being employed in cross- 
ing, as Darwin has proved, and as for the horse he mentions 
" rinding a tooth of a horse in a stained and decayed state." 
When he brought it to Europe he found it to compare with 



34 



ARRIVAL AT MEXICO. 



Some time after the removal of the Toltecs, a man tall in 
statue, of a fair complexion, with long dark hair and a flow- 
ing beard, rose up among the Astecs and became celebrated 
by his actions and teachings. They called him Quetzal- 
coatl or the god of the air, from his power of divining at- 
mospheric changes. Under his instructions they attained a 
remarkable knowledge of Agriculture, so that the fields bore 
crops a hundred' fold greater than before, the granaries 
teemed with vegetable treasures, and all thoughts of starvation 
fled from the minds of men. He also showed them the 
uses of metals. More than all did he take particular pains 
to inform them of the proper method of government and 
how the gods should be worshiped. 

For many years he thus continued his career of greatness 
and benevolence until finding that the hearts of the people 
were with him and it was in his power to influence them 
as he choose, the higher powers became jealous and drove 
him off, for they feared to kill him. Quetzaleoatl thus forced 
to depart travelled towards the sea coast, but stopped on his 
way at the city of Cholula, when in like manner as he had 
done in other places he taught the people. He showed them 
that flowers and fruits in their season were the only sacrifices 



a similar one found in the United States by a slight but pe 
culiar curvature in it. " It is certainly a marvellous fact in 
the history of the Mammalia, that in Somh America a native 
horse should have lived and disappeared, to be succeeded in 
after ages by the countless herds descended from the few 
introduced with the Spanish colonists."' 

12. The Toltecs were probably the people given an ac- 
count ot by Marco Polo, who tells us- that Kublai Khan a 
Tartarian monarch, after he had conquered the southern 
part of China, sent out a naval expedition for the purpose 
of subduing Japan ; but that this armament was cast away 
and never more heard of: and it has often been conjectured 
that some of the vessels may have found their way to Amer- 
ican shores, a supposition that will explain the traces of Tar- 
tar customs existing among the Mexicans at the time of the 
Spanish conquest. 



Q.UETZALCOATL. 



35 



the gods ever liked and consequently that none other could 
ever be acceptably offered by the people. In gratitude for 
nis kind offices the people raised a monument to commemo- 
rate his fame and instituted a priesthood to offer sacrifices 
upon it. But this deed was the occasion of his sudden de- 
parture, for the Aztecs princes hearing of his increasing 
power threatened vengeance on the inhabitants of 6holula 
if they sheltered him any longer. Quetzalcoatl delaying 
no longer his departure entered a magic skiff made of the 
skins of serpents and directed his course to the mysterious 
shores of Tlapallam. 

But before his departure he promised his faithful followers- 
that he would revisit them hereafter and bring with him 
many of his children, and that then he would be much more 
powerful than now. and the whole country should come under 
his sway. His children he told them should resemble him- 
self in appearance and complexion and they should be armed 
with thunder and lightning with which to wreak vengeance 
on all the foes who opposed them. 51. 



13. For information on this subject consult Prescott's 
History of Mexico, or still better a beautifully written ro- 
mance founded on the tradition of Quetzalcoatl, by Ed- 
ward Maturin, entitled Montezuma, or the last of the Aztecs j 
published by Paine and Burgess of this city. 

14. The pyramid built to the honor of the god of the air 
at Cholula is of the most colossal dimensions, being, within 
eight feet, twice as large as the great Egyptian pyramid at 
Ghizeh. Its base covers an extent of upwards of forty-four 
acres, and the platform on it occupies more than one acre. 
Its perpendicular height is one hundred and seventy-seven 
feet. Some have supposed that it was originally a work of 
nature, but this opinion is refuted not only by tradition 
which speaks of its being built by man, but also by the fact 
that, a road cut a few years since across it, laid open a large 
section in which different layers of clay and brick were dis- 
tinctly visible. 

15. It will be well upon closing the account of the Aztecs 
to enumerate some of the principle points of resemblance 



36 



CITY OF SUMAI. 



The people fondly remembered his promise ; it descended 
as a heirloon to their children and was forgotten by none, 
its belief grew stronger and stronger, until at length a gene* 
ral feeling spread through the Aztec empire and its tributa- 
ries that the time had approached for the appearance of 
Quetzalcoatl and his children with fair complexion, armed 
with thunder and lightning. Agreeably to the universal 



between the ancient Mexicans and Tyrians. It is compara- 
tively an easy matter to prove that they came from the east. 
So strikingly do the traditions speak on his subject that the. 
source from whence they acquired them, remains a matter of 
but little doubt to the enquirer. 

They speak of a universal deluge in which only two per- 
sons, Coxcox and his wdfe, escaped ; and in their old paint- 
ings the heads of these two are shown along with a boat 
which is floating on the waters at the foot of a mountain. 
Others and to this that the boat was filled with various birds 
and beasts. From out this boat they say that a vulture was 
first sent to see if the land appeared ; but the voracious bird 
remained feeding on the dead bodies of the drowned giants. 
After waiting some time Coxcox sent forth a little humming 
bird which returned soon after with a twig in its mouth. 

They had also a great tower about which they tell a story 
of the giants building to save themselves from the floods. 
Their tradition tells of one Eve who brought sin into the 
w T orld, and from hence the sufferings of childbirth on women. 
This Eve is represented always with a serpent beside her. 
The sin consisted in their opinion in plucking a forbidden 
rose. 

The Spanish conquerors w r ere surprised beyond measure 
at beholding the cross the symbol of their own worship, 
universally adored in Mexico. It was sculptured on the 
walls of their temples and in some cases figures of children- 
represented on the sculpture as held up to it in an attitude 
of prayer. This cross simulated that of the Egyptian, and 
many other eastern nations, being the symbol of the god 
dess Astarte. 

Another rite of the Mexicans filled the Spaniards with 
amazement, the forming an image of their principal god 



SECOND CONQUEST, 



37 



expectation it was announced that the air-god's descendants 
had come to take possession of the empire, and the news 
was received with a mingled feeling of dread and curiosity. 

The white invaders marched through the country, and 
though many efforts was made to detain them, triumphed 
over their opposers and were victorious in every contest. 
Gaining the capital at last they imprisoned the imperial Mon- 
tezuma, overturning the idol gods, and destroying the priest- 
hood that served them, finally desolated the empire and once 
more made the descendants of Canaan " servants of 
servants. 7 ' 



with Indian corn and blood, and after pronouncing over it 
certain mysterious words distributing it to the people, who 
eating it in sorrow and humiliation proclaimed, that they 
were partaking of the flesh and blood of the deity. A 
similar use was made of wine and bread by the ancient 
Tyrians. Baptism in a form nearly similar to the Spanish 
was also practiced. 

Both the Tyrians and Mexicans were of course, from 
what has been said, idolatrous nations and sacrificed human 
beings on the dedication of their temples and defeat in war. 
But the Mexicans carried the habit to a greater extent than 
their ancestors had ever done. The companions of Cortez 
counted one hundred and thirty skulls in one of the temples, 
which had been sacrificed in a very few years. Their mode 
of sacrificing to the war god was also peculiar and it has 
been well remarked, that their was nothing like it in all the 
nations as regards refinement of cruelty. It was part of their 
law of war ancV they deliberately spared the captive on the 
field of battle to make a sacrifice of him in cold blood to the 
god of war. The priest took the bound victim and cutting 
open his chest, tore out the still beating heart with bloody 
violence. It is by discovering such traits as these in their 
character that we feel little sympathy for the conquered 
Mexicans, and view with composure the retaliation of the 
Spaniards. 

The Tyrians offered up children to the god Saturn (Mo- 
loch) who was represented by a large statue, the figure bent 
slightly forward and so placed that the weight of the small- 



38 



THE CITY OF SUMAI. 



The city of Sumai situated in a wild and desolate tract of 
country escaped for a long time the notice of the Spanish 
conquerors, and it was not until the rage of gold and blood- 



est child was sufficient to alter its position and cast the 
infant into a fiery furnace below the idol. On the ruins of 
Central America the custom is portrayed in bold relief, and 
perhaps, as in the days of the Tyrian Jezabel, brought a 
curse upon the country so that the rain nor dew might fall 
upon it, and as no Elijah was there the curse still con- 
tinues, for all travellers in those regions complain of the 
want of water, and decidedly declare that those cities, with 
which they abound, could never have been built did the 
same want of that article exist in those days as it does in 
our own. Often near Moloch is the cross of Astarte (the 
moon). 

The sacrifice to the goddess of health Hygeia by optional 
circumcision was one of the rites of the old Tyrian worship, 
and may also be identified in the Mexican. The chief wor- 
ship of both nations was given to Apollo, the sun god. and 
many temples of the most gorgeous character were erected 
to his honor. As among the Phoenecians. were also temples 
in which a sacred tire was kept burning night and day, 
by virgins of the sun. The Mexicans had a knowledge 
of painting similar to the Tyrians and both preferred ver- 
milion. The square columned style of their architecture 
can be proved identical, and on this subject alone volumes 
might be written. The works of Mr. Stephens on Central 
America read in this light, will prove doubly interesting and 
instructive, and of course render superflotis from their easy 
access any particular description. 

The swan was the symbolical emblem of the Tyrians 
and the antiquarian Jacob Bryant says, ' ; that wherever they 
or their descendants may have settled there will be found 
a story about a swan." Accordingly the Spanish historian 
Sahagun relates that about two centuries before the conquest 
by the Spaniards, the Aztecs were compelled to surrender 
to a neighboring kingdom that oppressed them, their embla- 
maticarbird the swan. 

Two other Tyrian emblems, serpents and eggs, are uni- 



THE CITY OF SUMAI. 



39 



shed was considerably abated that it was found out, and 
even then, as it had nothing to recommend it to their atten- 
tion, they allowed the inhabitants upon paying a tax to pur. 



versally found sculptured on the ruins of the ancient cities 
of Mexico. A third one which cannot fail to be a conclu- 
sive proof of the identity of the two nations is the represen- 
tation on the Mexican walls and temples of the spial shells, 
belonging to the murex which furnished the juice for the 
celebrated Tyrian dye. It need not be mentioned of course 
that no animal at all resembling the murex is found on the 
Mexican coast. 

Mr. Jones ; has instanced a similarity in their political char- 
acter in the formation of monarchies and republics as shown 
at Tyrus and Carthage, Mexico and Toltecs, besides great 
knowledge of Military affairs and defensive locality with 
analagous architecture on the sea and walls of Tyrus and 
Copan. And more than all the rest, to conclude, the sculp- 
tured altar of Copan every detail of which is acknowledged 
to be essentially Tyrian, in all its parts ; the characters on 
this celebrated altar represent the last event in the history of 
Tyre ! and from its character it would naturally become the 
first subject of record in the country to which they emi- 
grated. Their astromomical chart was similar to that of 
theTyrians, and contained animals not found or known in 
Mexico. 

The moment the Spaniards landed on the Mexican shores, 
news was conveyed to the courts of Montezuma, by means 
of the picture writing for which his subjects were so much 
celebrated ; and thus the Emperors received notice of the 
awful and wonderful beings who had so suddenly appeared 
upon his shores. Immediately there came to his mind the 
prophecies relative to Quetzalcoatl, the deity with fair com- 
plexion and flowing beard who after fulfilling his mission of 
benevolence among the Indians had embarked for the mys- 
terious shores of Tiapallan. These strangers exactly re- 
sembled the god of the air : their coming verified his pre- 
diction, and the intrepid and successful warrior who had 
from early youth been known as the greatest conqueror of 
his race and before whom nations of his own subduing now 



40 



CONQUEST. 



sue their own habits which they have done amid all the 
various changes of government to the present day ; and 
would probably have continued much longer unnoticed had 



bow in abject obedience — the great Montezuma sank into 
the superstitious despot, and saw only in the ill-fated coming 
of the white warriors, the departure of his crown and king- 
dom. We are told that the white bearded men in flying 
castles, who spoke in thunder and lightning paralyzed his 
mind and shook him with an awe from which he never re- 
covered, for no one in the empire believed with more shud- 
dering faith than himself, the prophecies which it was ex- 
pected were about to be fulfilled. Dryden makes mention of 
it in his play of the Indian Emperor. 

IE nter Guyomar hastily ; the scene is a sacrafice in the temple} 

• Odmar. My brother Guyomar ! methinks I spy 

Haste in his steps and wonder in his eye. 

Montezuma. I sent thee to the frontiers : quickly tell 

The cause of thy return) are all things well. 

Guyomar. I went in order sir to your command 
To view the utmost limits of the land, 
To that sea where no more world is found, 
But foaming billows breaking on the ground 
Where for a while my eyes no object met, 
But distant skies that in the ocean set, 
And low hung clouds that dipped themselves in rain 
To shake their fleeces on the earth again ; 
At last, as far as I could cast my eyes 
Upon the sea, somewhat me thought did rise 
Like bluish mists which still appearing more, 
Took dreadful shapes and moved towards the shore, 

Montezuma. W T hat forms did these new wonders represent r 

Guyomar. More strange than what your wonder can invent, 
The object I could first distinctly view 
Was tall straight trees, which on the waters flew. 



COL. DONIPHAN. 



41 



not the second conque&t brought them to light from Col. 
Doniphan following up the information gathered from 
the savages. 



Wings on their sides instead of leaves did grow, 
Which gathered all the breath the winds could blow ; 
And at their roots grew floating palaces 
Whose outbowed belles cut the yielding seas. 

Montezuma. What divine monsters 0 ye gods are these 
That float in air and fly upon the seas ; 
Came they alive or dead upon the shore ? 
Guyomar. Alas ! they lived ; surely I heard them roar ; 

All turned their sides and to each other spoke, 
I saw their words breathe out in fire and smoke, 
Sure it is their voice that thunders from on high, 
Or these the younger brothers of the sky. 
Deaf with the noise I took my hasty flight — 
No mortal courage can support the fight. 

High Priest. Old prophecies foretell our fall at hand 
When beared men in floating castles land 
I see it is of dire potent. 

Indian Emperor, Act I. Scene 2. 

Mr. Prescott speaking of the belief of the Indian race in 
the return of Quetzalcoatl, says that it was fondly cherished 
and as much expected as the advent of their king Sebastian 
continued to be the Potuguese or that of the Mesiah by the 
Jews, and that it was in a great measure owing to this be- 
lief that the Spaniards were enabled to conquer the country. 



42 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



BOOK H. 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 

BEFORE THE PERIOD OF COLUMBUS* 

It will be well before reading this article to turn to a map 
of the world and carefully survey the positions as laid down 
on it of the north-western part of Europe to Iceland and 
Greenland, and in turn, the positions of these two last named 
places to North America. Such an examination will cause 
much of the difficulty to vanish that might exist in the mind 
relative to an easy passage from any one of the places to 
another. 

That the existence of waste tracks of land was known 
to the inhabitants of Aves tern Europe in early times is evident 
from the nature of many of their traditions. It was fondly 
believed that a land of perpetual summer existed beyond 
the ocean and that all which could be required to feast the 
palate or gratify the eye was there in countless profusion 
Many tried to discover them, but returned back disheartened 
with the length of the voyage and terrified by the boundless 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



43 



extent of waters spread out before them. Mrs. Hemans 
speaks of such places, 

— in her isles of delight that rest 
Far off in a breezeless main 

Which many a bark with a wear)' quest 
Has sought but still in vain. 

A writer, prefacing the narration by remarking that essen- 
tial truth form the basis of most fables, quotes from Stilling- 
fleet, the seven years' voyage of St. Brenda, in quest of 
Paradise (or the Elysian islands). St. Brenda hearing an ac- 
count of the discovery of a delightful island by Mernoc, re- 
solves to visit the place, and after building a vessel, put in 
forty days provisions, and set sail with fourteen of his followers. 
After many hardships, and from want of provisions being oblig- 
ed to subsist on whatever fish they couldcatch, they came 
at last to an island uninhabited by men, but filled with im- 
mense numbers of the feathered tribes, and named by them 
in consequence the Paradise of Birds. Staying three 
months here they again put to sea and encountered many 
strange adventures before reaching home. 

The Welsh chief Gavran, as quoted by Southey in Ma- 
doc, made several discoveries by sea and among others of 
islands in the west called the Green-lands of the ocean. From 
the same country also went forth Madoc in the twelfth 
century in search of the Atlantic and American territories. 
Southey remarks that strong evidence has been adduced on 
this subject ; and that his posterity exist there to this day 
on the southern branches of the Missouri, retaining their 
complexion, their language, and in some degree, their arts. 

The Northmen scattered along the north-western coast of 
Europe were very successful in their discoveries of the 
Atlantic islands and America. Bold, hardy and resolute 
they relied on the traditions of their ancestors and putting 



44 



DISCOVERY OF V INLAND. 



out to sea, with fearless and unflinching confidence, wert 
fully justified in their faith by the realization of their 
most sanguine anticipations. Certain pirates on an expedi- 
tion from Norway to the Faroe islands were driven out of 
their course in the ninth century and discovered the volcanic 
summit of Hecla. Harold the fair- haired was then king of 
Norway, and his ambition and usurpations drove off many 
of his chieftains to seek a home in another country who 
gladly took advantage of the piratical discovery, and in 827 
sailed to the new which country soon became settled, and 
sent out adventurers to discover other lands ; and thus 
in. turn Greenland became known and inhabited. Still 
extending their excursions they came to the American 
shores, as far down it is supposed as Massachusetts. 

In a voyage made by Lief, in those early times, along the 
coast he came to a barren plain of slaty formation and called 
it Helluland or the country of slates ; coming to another 
place after the lapse of some days in which the country was 
flat and covered with wood and tracks of white sand where- 
ever they went ; he called it Markland. At last they ar- 
rived at a place that suited them in every respect, and here 
they went ashore and constructed tents of skins ; the soil 
was excellent, the eatable animals on the land plenty, 
and in the river, larger and finer salmon than they had 
ever before seen. 

It happened one evening that they missed a man of their 
company and it was Tyrker the German. This was a great 
grief to Lief under whose father Tyrker had long served 
and to whom he was much attached. He according set 
out to find Tyrker, with a company of men, but had pro- 
ceeded to a very short distance when they met the absen- 
tee who gave them a hearty welcome ; he staggered as he 
walked and uttered strange sentences, which le^ 1 Lief to 



DISCOVERIES BEFORE COLUMBUS. 



45 



make enquiry, when he found, to his surprise, that Tyrker 
had discovered vines and grapes and was then under the 
influence of the generous liquor. Taking advantage of this 
event they loaded their ship with timber and grapes and 
then returned to Greenland. When they arrived home they 
spoke of the new country, under the name of Vinland 

•'The discovery of Vinland/ 3 says a writer, " was not 
made in obscure age. It may have been preceeded by many 
remarkable voyages in the west, and we do not venture to 
deny positively that the stories of the Limerick merchants, 
especting the ^Northmen carried to Great Ireland and the 
White Man's Land, may have had their foundation in some 
very early transatlantic discoveries. But conferring our at- 
tention to what is strictly matter of history we may remark 
that the discovery of Vinland was made cotemporaneously 
with the first colonization of Greenland, and the establish- 
ment of Christianity in that country and Iceland, and conse- 
quently belonged to the most interesting period in the an- 
1 nals of the north. 

" The discovery of. Yinland was immediately made known 
in Norway : and in the latter half of the eleventh century 
Adam of Bremen heard it from Swein king of Denmark. 
This discovery he emphatically remarks is not a fable but 
we know it from certain information of the Danes. 

"The ancient Icelandic geographers agreed in placing 
Markland and Vinland to the south of Greenland, and what 
is very remarkable that Yinland, the most remote country 
known to them in that quarter was supposed to join Africa, 
a supposition that makes evident two facts ; first, that it was 
situated a long way south of Greenland ; and that secondly 
nothing was known of the extent of its shores. 

c: Columbus visited Iceland in 1477 ; and from his general 



46 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



appetence of knowledge it cannot be doubted that he heard 
of the early voyages of the Northmen and their discovery of 
Vinland. What could be more to his purpose or better 
adapted to his views, than the fact that the Northmen, the 
boldest of navigators had knowledge of a land in the west, 
which they supposed to extend far southwards till it met 
Africa ? Or could not the intelligent Genoese find some 
suggestion in the following more accurate statement of an 
Icelandic geographer ? 1 On the west of the great sea of 
Spain which some call Ginnugagaj), and hearing some- 
what towards the north, the first land which occurs is the 
good Vinland. 1 It would add little to the reputation of Co- 
lumbus to maintain that he was incapable of profiting by so 
good a hint. 

" Columbus himself, from these facts comes to be regarded 
in a new light not so much as an original discoverer as one 
who repeated and established the accredited discoveries of 
his predecessors in a most heroic and glorious style of exper- 
iment. Thus was the ancient Tyrian and Pythagorean' 
system of astronomy revived, restored and developed by 
Copernicus and Newton. Their immense merit consisted 
in the examination, accumulation and demonstration of 
antique theories that had well nigh been consigned to obliv- 
ion. And this in our estimation requires a lofter and wider 
range of intellectual science, than original discovery itself. 
Original discovery as it is called is often the result of chance 
or accident, the spirit of contradiction and even the rashness 
of desperation- Original discoveries are often struck out in 
an instant to the astonishment of their inventors who had 
no anticipation of them. Not so w T ith the profound truth 
teacher who knowing that what is true is not new, and that 
what is new is not true, searches through the recondite an- 
nais of our planet for the golden links of the true philosophy 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 47 

For this man, what perseverance is required, what subtlety, 
what fine perception of analogies, what a critical analysis 
r>f all the elements that constitute probability. 

" Such men if not original discoverers, are discoverers of 
a still higher order. They lay hold of the neglected germ 
which original discovery had hung on the sharp rocks of in- 
credulity, and develop it into an august and glorious system 
of demonstrated verity. They seize the little spark of pro- 
methian fire which was just about to perish in the fogs of 
forgetfulness and by it they rekindle the universe into a blaze 
of exulting hope. 

"If therefore we admire Columbus less as the hardy ad- 
venturer, who with a dogged and desperate resolution, hop- 
ing against hope, launched forth on the Atlantic to discover 
he knew not what, we reverence him more than ever as the 
keen-sighted and philosophic truth-seeker, who from the ac- 
cumulated testimony of ages, in the haughty independence 
of conscious genius moulded a most refined yet demonstra- 
ble theory of geographical facts. His mind when he set sail 
from Europe was impressed with the weight of historical 
evidence and he proceeded in confidence and certainty." 

Not only did Columbus acquire information by his visit to 
Iceland but his knowledge was strongly confirmed by th e 
reports he heard of land being seen far to the west of Ice- 
land — the discovery of Maderia, the discovery of carved 
wood not cut with iron instruments four hundred and fifty 
leagues from Cape St. Vincent, on the open sea, and im- 
mense sized reeds, which had drifted to Port Santo, from the 
west — hugh pine trees of unknown species, wafted by west- 
ern winds to the Azores, and not least of all, human bodies of 
wonderous form and feature cast upon the island of Flores. 

The Society of Northen Antiquarians at Copenhagen are 
now engaged in collecting and publishing all the accounts 
concerning the voyages of the Northmen to this continent 



48 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



long before its discovery by Columbus. The information 
they have already given to the world is invaluable and 
definitely settles the disputed question of early discovery 



